Jet ejection propulsion



Feb. 27, 1951 D. w. HUMPHREY 2,543,024

JET EJECTION PROPULSION Filed June 28, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1951 D. w. HUMPHREY JET EJECTION PROPULSION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1946 M7770 rye y);

Patented Feb. 27, r'1951 UNIED STATES PATENT OFFICE JET EJ ECTION PROPULSION Duane W. Humphrey, Wichita, Kans; ApplicationJuneiS, 1946, SeriaLNo.' 680,175

3 Claims.

This invention relates` to the propulsion of vessels and arcraftand to engines therefor.

An object of this invention.istoprovide a jet ejection propulsion engine for generating high velocity gases whereby a vessel or an aircraft may be propelled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jet propulsion device which may be applied to vessels andhaving means for propelling the vessel as a result of the reaction of high energy high velocity gases upon water into which said gases are discharged.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description of a preferred embodiment thereofV as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which,

Figure 1 is a partly brokenl out side elevation of a vessel with a pair of engines according to the invention, installed, in .its hull.

Figure 2 is aleftendelevation of the vessel shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure el is a sectional elevation taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken on line G-ii of Figure 1, and

Figure 'i is a right end elevation of the vessel shown in Figure 1.

As described, the unit includes two main parts, namely the gas turbine for generating high veloeity gases, and the ejection unit which causes the gases to make the greatest possible reaction when nozzled into the water or into the air in the case of aircraft.

*.n important feature of the invention is the injection of water into the combustion chamber at such a rate as to keep the temperature of the gases at a safe limit, below the critical temperature of the metal in the turbine blades.

Reference is now had to the drawings, in which like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Figures 1 through 7 show the construction of a vessel il@ inside the hull |l2 of which two engines H4 and H0 are installed, each engine having its air intake tube ||8 with an open mouth at im. Each engine also has its exhaust pipe TS extending downward through the hull into the water passageway |22 which extends longitudinally the entire length of the vessel as best shown in Figure 1. large pear-shaped opening |24 in the bow of the As shown in Figure 2, there is a (Cl. 11K- 14) vessel for the entrance of water into the passageway |22.

The water passageway l22running the entire length of the shipel-iminates the need-for double bottom tanks, because the. water tight bottom 26.would.be protected by the frames and bottom |20. The water passageway |22 isdivided horizontally as shown in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, by the ejection unit housing. I 30.which extends laterally the full width of the. water. passageway, with its sides |3-2and |34 in4 contactwith the abutting inner surfaces of the hullasashown.

The ejection unit housingV |30 has an inner chamber i36'which is yopen atits rearward constricted-gas dischargeend |38, andis divided longitudinally intotwo chambersii yand |42- by avlongitudinal vertical wall |44, so thatthe discharge tube 16 of. the leftv engine as shownin Figures 4 and 5 leads into chamber |40, while thezdischarge tube ofthe right engineleads into chamber` |42. The housing |30 4isstreamlined as at |46, and the. water iiows above.v and belowthe horizontally disposed'housing |30 through paths |45 and |41 toward the rearward portion of the water passageway, the wall |43 dividing the said paths into left and right portions longitudinally.

Gases discharged from the engines ||4 and ||6 iiow downward through their respective discharge pipes l5, into their respective chambers |40 and |42, and out in divided streams through the rearward constricted jet nozzle openings at |38, where they are mixed with the water in the water passageway, imparting thereto their energy and causing the water to move through the rearward opening |50 at high velocity so as to exert a considerable rearward thrust in the direction of the arrow |52 in Figure 1, whereby the vessel is propelled.

For steering purposes, it is only necessary to operate the ship in the same manner as twin screw ships, by either turning oif one engine while operating the other, or by operating the engines at different rates. For astern motion, a small ejection unit may be installed in the bow. The opening |24 in the bow has the advantages of reducing the size of bow waves, and of reducing the surface friction of the bow. There is no danger of fouling propellers since they are not used, and double bottom tanks are not necessary. The machinery is simple and therefore trouble free. One turbine can be used to drive the ship through the use of Crossovers in the gas passages. No rudder troubles exist because the steering is done by the amount of power applied on either port or starboard unit.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. Jet ejection propulsion means for a waterborne vessel comprising means providing an elongated passageway below a bottom wall of said vessel, said passageway having an open forward end and an open, restricted rear end, a gas discharge tube extending downwardly into said passageway, and a hollow body within said passageway spaced from the walls thereof and communicating internally with said gas discharge tube, said body having an open, restricted rear end directed toward the open, restricted rear end of said passageway, and said means providing said passageway comprising an inner and an outer bottom wall of said vessel.

2. Jet ejection propulsion means for a waterborne vessel comprising means providing a pair of elongated, side-by-side passageways below a bottom wall of said vessel, said means comprising an inner and an outer bottom wall of said vessel, a hollow body in said passageways near the rear ends thereof extending laterally thereacross and having an open, restricted rear end directed toward the rear ends of said passageways, a partition in said body dividing the inf.

bottom wall of said vessel, said means comprising an inner and an outer bottom wall of said vessel, a hollow body in said passageways near the rear ends thereof extending laterally thereacross and having an open, restricted rear end directed toward the rear ends of said passageways, a partition in said body dividing the interior thereof into two jet discharge chambers one for each passageway, and a pair of gas discharge tubes extending downwardly one into each chamber, the upper and lower walls of said hollow body being spaced from the inner and outer bottom walls of said vessel to provide water passages past said body above and below the same, said passageways together extending longitudinally and laterally the length and breadth of the bottom of said vessel.

DUANE W. HUMPHREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

